International Holocaust Remembrance Day

This morning I picked up the Jerusalem Post to read the headline, "PM expected to draw connections between Iran's nukes and Holocaust." The article goes on to quote other leaders. "Merkel to Peres in Berlin: "Teheran's time is up." Today is the official United Nations Holocaust Remembrance Day and also the anniversary of the historic liberation of Auschwitz. I expected to see historic articles throughout the paper, but the main thrust of today's headlines is a, not so subtle, warning that a second holocaust is waiting around the corner if the world does not act in some measure, and very quickly.

I find it eerie that on this day that we remember the atrocities of the past, we are confronted with a present day threat that could potentially kill more people in a few minutes then Hitler and his SS guards did in several years. On Tuesday, at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu wrote in the guestbook, "The people of Israel have learned their lesson." I do not doubt his words, but I question whether the world has learned its lesson as well.

This past summer I visited Dachau concentration camp right outside of Munich. It was my first visit to a concentration camp memorial. There is much to say on this subject, but that is for another blog on another day. But I remember feeling like I had stepped onto the set of some horror movie. The heinous acts that were done there make the rational mind swim and finally go numb. I didn't cry as I made my way through the man-made hell. I thought that the walks through the cramped housing units, gas chambers and crematorium would be very emotional, but I found that my senses were frozen. It was not until after I was away from it all that I could sort through my feelings. Even now, I have not fully unpacked the experience.

Toward the end of the tour, my group was lead to a large stone memorial with the words "Never Again" written in English, Hebrew, French, German and Russian. "Never Again." I feel that our world is so detached from the atrocities and is so certain that the modern, educated world citizens of today could never return to such barbarism. But it was the most modern and educated people who masterminded the holocaust. Wishing hatred away has never been a successful strategy as history proves again and again.

I would like to believe the world has learned its lesson. But if it has not, have the Christians learned theirs? I often wonder what I would have done had I lived as a European Christian during the Second World War. Would I have been like Corrie Ten Boom who hid Jewish people in her home and marched bravely to a concentration camp when she and her family were caught? Could I have publically spoken against Hitler like German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose involvement in a plot to overthrow Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution in 1945.

Or would I be part of the silent mass of Christians who quietly dissented from Hitler. Those who abhorred his government, his policies and his practices but who would never scratch below the surface afraid of what they might find. Would I have been content to be dissatisfied but passive?

The answer may come more quickly than I would like. We may all have a decision to make very soon. We do live in a period in history where there is virulent hatred toward Israel and her Jewish citizens and where there is a madman spewing numerous promises to wipe Israel from the map. The scenario, while similar to WWII, is different. Our response cannot be the same. We are not Germans and the man making speeches of hatred is not our leader. How do we respond?

I wish I knew. But one thing I do know is that when we are faced with Anti-Semitism of any kind, we must speak out. When the nation of Israel is verbally attacked for the crime of existing, we must answer in defense. And if ever called upon to shoulder the burden of the Jewish people, we must be ready.

It was Deitrich Bonhoeffer who said, "It is the fellowship of the cross to experience the burden of the other. If one does not experience it, the fellowship he belongs to is not Christian. If any member refuses to bear that burden, he denies the law of Christ."

If any man has a right to make such a bold statement it is he. As I honor this day of rememberance, it is my earnest prayer that if confronted with the choice, we Christians will answer as strongly as the Corrie Ten Booms and Bonhoeffers who have gone before us.

"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Proverbs 24:11-12

I absolutely agree with the comment by Bonhoeffer. I have heard this years before, but some things take a while to grasp the reality, unfortunately---but I pray for the readers that God does a fast work in us with "the fellowship of the cross." There is no more room for playing with the things of God. We either are - or - we aren't when it comes to the Lamb. And that is what it will be when we are once again faced with a choice--which is actually quite simple. Perhaps that is why the simple (which does not relate to intelligence) made the right choice during the war. I think of single-mindedness and the straight and narrow path, when I say simple. Remember.

Your article brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. I’ve tried to inspire passion among my Christian friends to take the smallest stands against issues like human-sex trafficking. I was shocked at how many believers were silent while my non-believing friends were the first to stand with me. Our hearts must break for the same things that break God’s heart. Thank you for taking a stand by writing this article. You have given us a lot to think and pray about. I pray for you and I have no doubt that you will be among the first to take a stand if and when that horrible time comes. God bless you.

Kasey,
Again, I love the way you tell the story from your point of view. It makes me think how would I react if I was living in that time of history. You really dig deep to the soul and this is what I love. You make us, bloggers, to activate our brains in a different way!!!

Outstanding article Kase. These questions are the ones we should all be asking ourselves. I's time that we stop pretending that what the President of Iran is saying, he won't attempt to do. Then there is no difference between us and those living in WW2 listening to Hitler vow to destroy the Jews. The difference is our reaction! Very inspiring, can't wait for more read more of your articles :)

Kasey:
We need to be awakened and realize if we become so hardened to today's crimes History can and will repeat itself. Your story touches hearts and stirs memories of this horrendious time. Thank you for reminding us to stand for what's right it is our Christian duty! Deloris

Kasey this is an amazing article, I visted Poland the and camps this summer and I don't even want to begin experiencing what I felt being there; then returning to the US in a completely clueless and passive Christian world. WE MUST GET ON OUR DUTIES AND PROTECT GOD'S CHOSEN, AT ALL COSTS!

Your insightful comments about the Holocaust on Travelujah bring to mind more from the Wiseman, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" Prov 25:11

I fear that most of we Christians do not truly understand the madness of Nazi persecution of the Jewish people nor would have put ourselves in harm's way to help those so desperately in need.

As a family we recently watched the excellent movie Defiance. It tells another dimension of the horrific suffering of the Jewish folks during the utter insanity created by the Nazis.

On a positive note, the benefit of 9/11 and subsequent attacks is helping the world and America, in particular, understand the threat of Islamic Facism. We 'touched the hem of the garment" and that helped make folks aware.

William Blake once said, "Active evil is better than passive good." At first I recoiled against this as horribly flawed thinking. Our current times, however, sadly make me think twice of that quote. To know what is honorable before God and to sit passively by seems a horrible kind of evil. Thank you for bringing these issues to the forefront.